UMass Students Stress Resilience in Combating Climate Change

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) – Hope and resilience were the themes of Wednesday’s Earth Day Celebration at the UMass School of Earth and Sustainability in Amherst.

Students told 22News that the stakes are high, but they’re working to find ways to cope with climate change.

“What happens to our food if climate change comes about,” graduate student Rachel Berggren said. “So that’s what we’re going to do to bring people together, using art as a tool for communication.”

In keeping with the theme of the day, the keynote speaker stressed the need to be hopeful.
The head of the School of Earth and Sustainability, Dr. Curt Griffin, told 22News that he’s confident concerned young people will eventually find ways to protect our planet from pollution.

“Oftentimes, we worry about the future,” Dr. Griffin said. “But with this group of students, their enthusiasm, their knowledge, I feel we’re in very good hands.”

Advocates for change believe everyone can do their part to protect the place where we live. Individual action can begin with something as basic as taking a bus or a bicycle to get to work and leaving their car at home.